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Hamas: Friendless in Gaza

Hamas leadership understands well that it can’t defeat Israel militarily. They know that guerrillas, no matter how violent, brutal or even fearless, can’t stand up against Israel’s might. They realize that even with ever more sophisticated and lethal weapons, they don’t pose an existential threat to Israel. However many they kill and however much damage they do to towns, cities or the airport will be met by overwhelming responses from Israel.

So, why are they doing this? Is this just madness? Perhaps a death wish motivated by martyr status and heavenly rewards? Could it be just pure evil? All of these theories are true for some members of Hamas, but it is a mistake to look only on the surface. To understand why they believe this losing strategy is a winner, you have to look at their deeper objectives and how current conditions drive their desperate acts.

Hamas is not acting out of strength but out of weakness, fear and isolation. They are acting now, not because of the opportunity offered by Israel’s pain at losing three young men to Hamas. Nor are they acting because of the terrible reprisal visited upon an innocent Palestinian youth who was kidnapped and murdered. They are acting now because their power and prestige are at an all time low and they have few friends in the Muslim World and far fewer supporters in Gaza.

Hamas is made up of Sunni Arabs, but has received support in the form of guns, RPGs and rockets from Shiite Iran, through Syria and Assad—also a Shiite. However, since Assad is being beset by an insurgency qua civil war against Sunni enemies, Hamas chose to align itself with the Sunni. This, understandably, has alienated Iran, Shiite Syria and Shiite Hezbollah. Hamas’ alliance with the Al Qaeda-backed Sunnis didn’t win them much extremist Sunni support. Why you might wonder? Well, because they went into a unity government with Abbas and the Palestinian Authority.

Netanyahu and Al Qaeda don’t agree on much, but here there is a consensus. This “unity government” is a bad idea. For Netanyahu it’s bad because it draws the PA into more violent extremism by associating with Hamas. To the hardcore violent extremists it’s bad because it compromises the terrorist bona fides of Hamas by partnering with the moderate PA.

To further complicate their situation, when Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, was overthrown, they lost a real partner. Now, they are virtually friendless in Gaza. Assad is mad, Iran feels betrayed, Al Qaeda doesn’t respect them and they have no money. Although the PA promised to pay their chronically un-paid administrators and soldiers, the money is not coming through as promised.

This renewal of violence is a desperate attempt to get attention and raise their status in the Arab World, as well as with Turkey and Iran. They want to be at the center of attention. They believe they can do this by making noise, breaking buildings and destroying lives—even of their own people.

Their further aim is to isolate Israel. They understand that the world no longer sees Israel as David and the Arabs as Goliath. The world sees Israel as Goliath and the Palestinians as David. Israel has the size in terms of a military and technology and the Palestinians have the stones and slingshots—along with increasingly accurate rockets.

Hamas wins by losing. Their attacks can’t destroy Israel but Israel’s responses usually garner sympathy for the innocent civilians. And indeed most civilians in Gaza are innocent and also not very fond of Hamas. However, with every civilian killed or wounded, understandably bitterness and resentment grow against Israel. This im(moral calculus by Hamas leads to our present perverse reality.

Israel’s goal is to minimize civilian casualties—their own and Palestinian. Hamas’ goal is to maximize civilian casualties—their own and Israel’s. When Israel bombs or invades the world sees a bully and a victim. When Gazans suffer the world sees Hamas as a defender not aggressor. As fast as Hamas is materially weakened by the deaths of leaders and soldiers and the destruction of munitions and tunnels, their status grows in the larger, and largely ignorant, world.

Hamas wins by losing. What they can’t accomplish by hurting Israel physically, they accomplish by hurting both Israel’s conscience and standing in the world. Israel certainly understands this, but is not able to remain passive or stoic as it comes under attack from Hamas. Violence in Mid Eastern culture is like spousal abuse: If left unpunished or tolerated, it escalates. The perverse strategy of Hamas of winning by losing leaves Israel with only bad options. Hamas has intentionally baited a trap and enticed Israel to fight. Hamas knows they will lose the battle but believes they will win the war.

They are acting bc Israel’s had enough. Buh-buh, Hamas, hopefully. Another arm of Hitler defeated.

Paula Klein

Very well written, as usual, but personally, I am sick of the Arab world and all their machinations, infighting and general nuttiness. I am also sick of a world that sees Hamas as the good guys and perversely continues to place Israel as the aggressors in this endless battle that has been forced upon them by a terrorist group that was actually ELECTED ( how insane or ill informed does one have to be to vote for these people, who have never accomplished one thing on behalf of their people? ). There is no moral equivalence here. While constantly having to defend themselves from attacks by Hamas, Israel still manages to continue not only their daily lives, but also continues to come up with amazing technology, inventions and scientific research. The only thing Israel is guilty of is bad PR. If Hamas could put all the energy they expend on hatred and violence, they might actually be able to create a viable homeland for their people, but they are bent on destruction, while Israel is bent on construction. But of course then Hamas would be out of a job! It was Hamas who refused a cease-fire yet we still hear on the news how many innocent Palestinians died at the hands of Israel. Any news on when we can expect fair reporting from the media? Sorry about the rant but this situation has made me angry for years! Paula

usebrain

This is the right time….world is busy with Isis and Ukraine… Only Turkey and South Africa is crying loud…Israel should do max. Damage to games before returning back

Jane

what a terrible picture you paint. But it is finally being said that Hamas is responsible for it’s own citizens being killed. it seems the only ones who take the fall are the Palestinians who are being used as shields. The Arab world seems to be done with these perpetual victims and perpetual refugees.

jack

Very well done.

Hamas is doing exactly what the rest of the Arabs want – keep the world focused on the ‘atrocities conducted by Israel’ while the rest of the middle east continues its timetable of preparing equipment and personnel to destroy the ‘Great Satan’ and its minions.